Masters in Australia

If your interest in postgraduate study abroad is fuelled by a spirit of adventure, a love of travel and an urge to try out new experiences, you can’t do much better than a Masters in Australia.

Our guide to Australian Masters degrees has been put together with the help of Study Options, the official Application Support Service for UK-based students wanting to apply to university in New Zealand and Australia.

On this page you can find detailed advice on postgraduate degrees in the Australian university system. This includes a guide to visas for international students in Australia and information on the application process for Australian Masters degrees.

Why study a Masters in Australia?

The land Down Under is famous as the home of beautiful weather, relaxed living and diverse sport and leisure opportunities. But did you know that it’s also the world’s fourth most popular destination for study abroad? Or that Australian universities are internationally renowned for the quality of their research and training?

Australia’s oceans and beaches may be famous as a surfer’s paradise, but they also offer unparalleled potential for environmental science research. After all, how many other countries give their marine biologists the chance to explore the Great Barrier Reef?

Meanwhile, a country that excels at pursuits as diverse as cricket, tennis and rugby is a great home-away-from-home for sports fans – and for students of physiotherapy and sports science.

As an international Masters student you’ll have the chance to experience the things that make Australia one of the world’s most appealing tourist destinations and take advantage of the unique educational opportunities that its universities offer.

Whatever your subject, you’ll be able to choose from a wide range of Masters degrees in Australia. Your course will also follow an internationally recognised format, modelled on the British degree system and respected around the world.

Masters degrees in the Australian university system

There are over 40 universities in Australia. The majority are public institutions, administered and funded by the Australian federal government.

Some maintain multiple campuses, but most are located within specific cities - with the greatest concentration on the eastern coast.

You can study at any Australian university as an international Masters student, provided you meet their application and admissions requirements. You will normally pay fees at a slightly higher rate, but will otherwise be admitted on the same basis as domestic students.

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions

Australia’s ‘Technical and Further Education’ (TAFE) are distinct from research universities. They focus on vocational training programs rather than academic degrees.

TAFE institutions don’t normally award postgraduate level qualifications and you can therefore focus elsewhere when searching for a Masters degree in Australia.

The academic year in Australia

The Academic year in Australia begins in February. It runs across two teaching semesters from February to June and from July to November.

Masters courses are usually available to start in either February or July, although some professional courses are only available to start in semester 1 (February).

Starting your Masters degree in February may seem strange if you’re used to an academic year beginning in September (this is particularly likely if you’re a current undergraduate, expecting to finish in the summer).

Having some time between the end of your Bachelor’s degree and the beginning of your Masters may actually be helpful, however.

You’ll have space to organise your application and perhaps even acclimatise yourself to Australia before your degree starts (subject to the conditions of your visa, of course). With most students travelling quite a way for an international Masters in Australia, this can actually be very convenient!

Accreditation of Australian universities

Australian universities are subject to self-regulation along with independent statutory overview. This protects their academic freedom, while maintaining internationally respected accreditation standards.

As an international Masters student in Australia, you will also be covered by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act). This establishes standards for international education Australia and protects the rights of overseas students.

These different systems ensure the quality of Australian Masters degrees is carefully maintained and that the qualification you receive will be of a standard recognised around the world.

Australian Masters degrees: varieties, program structure and course content

If you have previous experience of a western university system, the organisation of Australian degree qualifications will probably seem quite familiar.

Like the UK system (upon which it is modelled) Australia uses a three-tiered degree structure. Undergraduate Bachelors degrees are followed by postgraduate Masters degrees. Some students then continue on to higher level research qualifications, such as the PhD.

Many Australian degree programs also use similar names to their UK equivalents. The titles of MA (Masters of Arts) and MSc (Master of Science) are widely employed, for example.

Some course names do differ though. You are more likely to come across Masters of Commerce than Masters of Marketing. Professional teaching qualifications, meanwhile, are referred to as Graduate Diplomas of Teaching (or Masters of Teaching) rather than the UK Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

You can use our course listings to find programs in familiar subject areas.

If you’re having difficulty finding an Australian Masters degree program in a particular subject area and you are currently based in the UK or Ireland, you can also receive official advice from Study Options.

Types of Masters degree in Australia

You can study a Masters in Australia in a range of degree formats. Some courses build directly upon your undergraduate study. Others provide advanced training to boost your current career – or switch to a new one.

Traditional Masters are academic courses, offering the chance to study a specific subject in more depth. They are similar to equivalent degrees in countries like the UK, awarding, qualifications like the Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc).

These courses are delivered through a combination of teaching and / or research, with most including a final dissertation or similar project.

‘Change of direction’ Masters are for students who looking to switch academic pathways or gain additional expertise in a new area.

They often commence by giving you a grounding in the core principles of your new subject, before providing advanced training in a specific specialism.

Graduate entry professional qualifications are for candidates who have already completed an undergraduate degree and want to qualify professionally in a related career.

These courses are ideal if you intend to enter a regulated profession. If you wish to become a teacher, for example, you could use a Graduate Diploma or Master of Teaching to add professional education training to your academic knowledge of a specialist subject.

As an international student in Australia you should make sure professional qualifications are recognised in your home country. Many will be and, in some cases, the skills and experience you have gained abroad will help your CV stand out back home.

Professional development Masters are for candidates looking to enhance their careers through additional training. For example, you might be an experienced teacher seeking to develop education management skills, or a marketing professional looking to acquire digital media skills.

Unlike Graduate Entry Professional Masters, these programs usually require existing qualifications and experience. Studying such courses abroad can be an excellent way of building up your CV by taking advantage of unique expertise and training opportunities in Australia.

How long do Australian Masters degrees take?

The exact length of your Masters degree will depend on the type of program you study and its course content. In some cases your academic and professional background may also be a factor.

Most Masters degrees in Australia take between one and two years to complete:

Courses that include foundational training or require vocational placements may be longer (this can be the case for some Change of Direction or Professional Masters programs).

You can view the lengths for individual Australian Masters degrees using our course listings.

What about Masters by Research in Australia?

Most Australian universities offer research-based Masters degrees as well as taught courses. These will usually be academic programs (though some professional courses can include extended practical placements).

You can study a Masters by Research as a terminal (final) qualification in Australia or, if you wish to progress to doctoral research, you may be able to upgrade your registration to a PhD.

Your university will set its own application process for postgraduate research programs, but you will normally be expected to provide an outline of your prospective research topic and its aims. This doesn’t have to be final, but it should demonstrate the potential of your work and its suitability to the department and supervisor you are applying to work with.

Applying for a Masters in Australia

Australian universities are free to set their own application and admissions requirements, but all will be used to welcoming international postgraduates.

Admission requirements for academic programs

The core requirement for admission to an academic Masters program in Australia will be a relevant undergraduate degree (or its equivalent).

Your university should be able to advise if you are unsure about the eligibility of your existing qualifications. If you are based in the UK or Ireland you can also seek advice from Study Options.

The required standard for undergraduate qualifications will vary between programs, but most universities will accept the equivalent of a UK 2.1 or higher. This is roughly equivalent to a GPA of 3.0 or better in the USA.

Admissions requirements for professional programs

Professional programs may have more specific application requirements:

Professional Development Masters courses will usually require evidence of appropriate work experience and / or existing professional qualifications.

Graduate Entry Professional Qualifications may ask you to submit a score from a graduate applications test such as the GRE or the GMAT. This is most likely for competitive programs in subject areas such as business management.

Application process

There is no central application and admissions service for postgraduate degrees in Australia. However, international students in the UK and Ireland can choose to apply through Study Options, the official Application Support service for UK and Irish students in Australia and New Zealand.

Alernatively, you can apply directly to your prospective Australian university.

However you apply, you will need to provide a completed application form and proof of your existing qualifications.

Other application requirements for an Australian Masters degree can include:

Academic transcripts – these provide additional details of your undergraduate education, such as the modules you have studied and your performance on them. Your undergraduate university will need to produce and certify these documents.

References – these should include statements from your undergraduate tutors and / or professional employers, as appropriate.

A personal statement – not all courses will require a personal statement. A Masters by Research may ask for one as part of your proposal. A Graduate entry professional program may also ask you to describe your interest in a course and its relationship to your career goals.

Interviews

Most Australian Masters degree programs won’t require a formal interview as part of your application process.

Exceptions may apply to professional programs or research-based degrees, but this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to make an extra trip to Australia. Many universities will make arrangements to interview international applicants via skype or a similar platform.

Application dates and deadlines

Application deadlines for Australian Masters degrees will depend on the start-date for your course:

If you are commencing in the first semester (February-June) you will normally need to apply by the end of the previous October

If you are commencing in the second semester (July-November) you will normally need to apply by the end of April.

More information

Your university should be able to assist you if you’re unsure about any aspect of your Masters application, including deadlines, admissions requirements and supporting documents.

Remember, if you are based in the UK or Ireland and have more questions about studying in Australia, you can get help and advice from Study Options. Study Options offers expert help and support to all students applying to Australian universities from the UK and Ireland. Their services are completely free and impartial.

Masters student visas in Australia

Most people will need a visa to study a Masters in Australia as an international student. Note that visas are only available for full-time students. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to receive a visa to study a part-time Masters in Australia.

Who
doesn’t
need a visa to study in Australia?

You won’t normally need an Australian student visa if you are a citizen of Australia, a citizen of New Zealand, or have the right to reside permanently in New Zealand or Australia.

What type of visa will you need to study a Masters in Australia?

There are two main varieties of visa for postgraduate students in Australia:

If you are applying for a taught Masters program you will need a Higher Education Sector Visa (sub-type 573).

If you are applying for a research Masters you will need a Postgraduate Research Sector Visa (sub-type 574).

Both will allow you to live and study in Australia for the duration of your program. You’ll also be able to re-enter the country multiple times during this period – perfect if you’re keen to get home for a white Christmas!

Application process

Before you can apply for either type of visa you will need to be accepted onto an Australian Masters degree course and receive Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). This will be a formal document issued by your university following the payment of a tuition fee deposit.

Alternatively you can submit a hard-copy form. Students in the UK and Ireland can acquire these from Study Options.

Both methods will require you to provide supporting information. This should include:

Your passport details.

CoE evidence.

Proof that you meet financial requirements (see below).

You will also need to pay a AU$535 application fee.

The processing period for your visa can vary, but it should normally be issued to you within four weeks.

Additional visa regulations

Australian student visas are usually subject to the following additional regulations:

Working – you can work for up to 40 hours a fortnight on a type 573 visa, subject to restrictions. Working hours for students on type 574 visas are not limited. See our guide to living as a Masters student in Australia for more information on working while studying abroad.

Academic progress – the validity of your student visa will be subject to your making satisfactory progress on your degree program.

Financial requirements – The Australian government estimates a requirement of around AU$18,610 per year for student living costs. You may need to demonstrate access to this amount (in the form of existing savings, sponsorship or funding).

Health insurance

You will need valid health insurance for the duration of your Masters in Australia. This is referred to as Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) and is available from a range of providers.

The amount of cover provided by OSHC policies varies, but a minimum level is set by the Australian Department of Health. You can find more information at their website.

Find out more about studying a Masters in Australia

Hopefully this page has answered most of your questions about studying a Masters degree in Australia.

Or, if you’d like to know more about what it might be like to live Down Under during your degree, check out our guide to student life in Australia.

For other questions about studying abroad in Australia, students based in the UK or Ireland can get in touch with Study Options, the official Application Support Service for students wanting to apply to university in New Zealand and Australia. Their advisors operate independently of individual universities and can offer impartial advice on your decision making process.